The 75th edition of the NBA All-Star Game ended as one of the most competitive in recent years — a much-needed development given the enduring optics — with the new iteration of the USA vs World format delivering intensity for most of the night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The new round-robin tournament of two teams of American stars, USA Stripes and USA Stars, and a third team representing international stars, Team World, proved exciting off the bat, with the league’s biggest stars putting in the kind of effort and energy that has been missing from the midseason traditional showcase for a while.

Despite strong showings from players like Victor Wembanyama, Team World lost both of their games, losing first to Team Stars 37-35 in overtime, before a 48-45 loss to Team Stripes, which featured Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

Victor Wembanyama at NBA All-Star 2026:

🌍 33 PTS
🌍 8 REB
🌍 3 BLK
🌍 10-13 FGM
🌍 20 MIN pic.twitter.com/6rGzKZIvBb

— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026

With Team World eliminated 0-2 in the round-robin tournament, Team Stars and Team Stripes advanced to the championship game, where the intensity and competitiveness that had held sway for much of the night lost its momentum.

In what would be their third game of the night, the ageing USA Stripes ran out of steam, succumbing to a 20-point loss to a younger American team, buoyed by the performances of Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey, who claimed the All-Star crown.

ANT: 2026 @Kia ALL-STAR MVP!

He receives the Kobe Bryant Trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/eHypNna1DN

— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026

Edwards emerged MVP after tallying 13 points in Team Stars’ Game 1 win over Team World. He posted 11 points in Game 2’s loss to Team Stripes. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard added 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in Team Stars’ decisive title game win to secure his first-ever All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP award.